Can washing machine



Feb. 16, 1932. J, P. McKlNL'EY 1,845,313

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1950 3 sheets-Sheet 1 F'eb. 16, 1932. J. P. MCKINLEY I CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed April 25, 195o 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16,- 1932.

J. P. MGKINLEY CAN WASHING MACHINE s sheets-sheet 5 Filed April 23. 1930 @awaited Feb. 16, 1932 PATENT oFF-ICE :roHN r. MCKINLE'Y, or BUFFALO, NEW Yom:

cAN wAsmNo MAGHIN Application ined April es,

5 which will `avoid the danger of mixing-the cans and covers; which will be kas completely automatic as possible; which will require a. minimum of power to operate; with which l the covers and cans will always reach the dis-I m charge position in proper relation to one another to facilitate the assembly of the cover n the can, and which will be relatively simple, eiiicient, compact and inexpensive.

Y Another object of the invention is to provide improved and automatic means for starting the covers and cans in a desired relation to one another through-the washing process; with which the fluid treating medium may be controlled to any desired extent automatically by the cans.. Y

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the. following description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novelfeatures will beA particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with they appended claims. I

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one part of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

` Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the other end of the machine, the portion o the machiney shown in Fig. 2 forming a continuation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1 when figures are arranged end to end, with Fig. 1 at the left of Fig. 2'; v A

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional elevation L of the saine, the section being taken approximately along the line 3-3 of Fig; 2,.;

Fig. 4 is a plan, partly in section of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. l1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation y somewhat schematic, and showing the mechanisln at the left end of F ig. 1 in a different operative position; and Fig. 6 is a transverse, sectional elevation of certain parts of the same, with the section taken approximately along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

5 'In the illustrated embodiment ofthe inend of the casing 1, in an inverted position.

them along the trackway. .Thi propelling -with the lower or open ends of the cans and issu.' seriaiNo. 446,525'.

vention a tunnel likecasing 1 is supported upor a suitable base frame 2, and the cans to be Washed are inserted in one end, which is the end at the left in Fig. 1, and discharged from the opposite end (the right hand end in Fig. 2), it being understood that Fig. 2 is a continuation 'of the right hand end of Fig. 1. The cans A, shown in'dash lines in the drawings, are inserted at the entrance' The inverted cans are placed first upon the shelf 3; which forms a forward continuation4 of the can guide 4, Figs. 1, 4, 5 land 6.

The can guide may be of any desired construction and forms a trackway along which the cans may be slid while in an' inverted position.- The guide has an open 'space ,be-f Y tween its side limits through which propellingmeans may engage the cans and propel means mayinclu-de a pair of t dog bars 5, such as angle strips arranged as shown in Fig. 6, with .the lower horizontal arms extending toward one another. I Suitable dogs orvpawls 6a are pivoted by pins 7 to the dog bars, and are gravity voperated into the inclined positions shown in Figs. 1 and 5, with the heavy or overweighted ends ofthe dogs `aiding upon thel horizontal arms of the dog ars J The elevated ends of the dogs 6a project. upwardly through the can guide or trackway, so-as to engage with the open ends ot thecans when the dog bars are given an endwise movement. The dog bars are mounted for endwise movement or reciprocation in` any suitable manner, such as by suitablerollers 8 carried by the frame and arranged at intervals between the ends of the dog bars, as shown in Fig. 1. Hence when 90 the dog bars are reciprocated endwise in one A direction, whichwould be to the right in Fig.

1, the elevatedends of the dogs will engage push them along the canguide a distance corresponding to the endwise movement of the dog bars. v

During the return reciprocation or move- Y ment of the dog bars, the elevated ends of the dogs 6a will be cammed downwardly by M 1 extends endwise of the casing 1 above, and

at one side of,'the cans as shown in Fig. 6.

The cover guide 9 is secured in any suitablel manner to the casing l, and at intervals along its upper edge is provided with shallow notches 10 into which the covers roll and are temporarily retained. The notches 10 represent different steps or positions in the travel of the covers B along the guide 9. A dog bar 11 is provided adjacent and at one side of the cover guide 9, and may include an angle member a and a iat bar Z) arranged side by side and slightly spaced from one another by suitable spacing means.

Cover propelling dogs 12 are pivoted be.

tween the bar b and the-angle member a by suitable pins 15, and are gravity operated into inclined positions shown in Fig. 1, as usual heretofore. The dogs 12 and the dog barll have cooperating parts which limit the upward movement of the dogs to the inclined positions shown in Fig. 1. The dog bar 11 is mounted upon rollers14 of the casing (Fig. 1) so as to reciprocateendwise like the dog bars 5. When the dog bar 11 rn'oves to the right, in Fig. 1, the dogs 12 will push the covers out of the notches 10 and roll them along the cover guide into the next succeeding notches 10. During the opposite or return movement of the dog bar 11, the dogs 12 will idle beneath the covers and then will be operated upwardly by gravity into the positions shown in Fig. 1.

A lever 15 (Figs. 1, 3, and 4) is pivoted at 16 in a bearing framef'17 carried by a side P wall of the casing 1, Figs.v 1 and 4. A link 18 is pivoted by pin 19 to the upper end of the lever 15. The link 18, at its other end, is pivoted by pin 20 to the depending bracket or ear on the dog bar 11. The lower end of the lever 15 is pivoted by a pin 21 to one end of a link 22, the other end of the link 22 being pivoted by a pin 23 to an ear or bracket 24 (Fig. l) which depends from the dog bars 5. The arrangement of the links 18 and 22 with respect to the lever 15 is such that the can and cover dog bars will always move in opposite directions, so that when the can dog bars are propelling the cans forwardly through the casing 1, the cover dog bar willbe returning idly to new propelling position, and vice versa.

The cans and covers will therefore be moved alternately in what may be termed a half step relation to one another, so that the power required to reciprocate thecans and covers will never exceed that required to feed the cas forwardly alone because the Cans.

Leraars K are heavier 'than the covers. By reason of .this alternative feeding off the cans and cov? ers the load is equalized somewhat ,and a smaller motor may be utilized as the driving means which reduces the cost of operation.

ln order to oscillate the lever 15 a link 25 may be pivoted on the pin 21 at the lower end of the lever. The opposite end of the link 25, see Fig. 2, is pivoted by a pin 26 to one end of a lever or cam arm 27. The arm 27 is pivoted at 28 to frame 2 and between its ends carries.I a roller or follower (not shown) which is mounted on a pin 28 of the lever. The roller or follower runs in a cam groove 29 provided on a gear 30, which is mounted for rotation upon a shaft 31, Figs. 2 and 3. A pinion 32, Figs-2 and 4, meshes with and drives the gear 30 and is fixed upon a drive shaft 33.

The shaft 33 is rotatably. supported in the frame 2 and is driven from a shaft 34, the latter bein driven by belting 35 from the shaft 36 o? groove 29 is eccentric with respect to the shaft 31 of the gear 30, and consequently as the gear 30 rotates, the cam groove will cause ,oscillation of the arm 27 and through it and the link 25 will cause oscillation of the of the lever 15 and reciprocation of the cam and cover dog bars. The arm 27 and the roller carried by the pin 28 together, therefore, may be considered as a cam follower for the cam groove or cam 29.

The frame or base 2 of the machine extends beyond the casing 1, as shown in Figure 2, and may mount suitable cam upending or reversing mechanism and cover applying means. The cam upending and cover applying mechanism, shown in Fig. 2, except for themanner of supplying operative power, forms the subjectmatter of a pending aplication of Charles Sperraz, Serial. Number 344,824, filed March 6, 1929, to which reference may be had for a complete disclosure.

the casing l, at approximately the same level as the can guide in the casing 1. The carriage 43 is connected by a link 44 to one end of an arm 45 which is pivoted at 46 to the frame 2. Another link 47 is pivoted by pin 48 to the arm 45, and at its other end is pivoted by pin 49 to Ione end of an arm 50 which is fastened on a shaft 51.

The shaft 51 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings of the frame 2, and also-carlll ries and rotates an arm 52 having at its freerv end a pin 53 of a follower roller, also running in a'cam groove 29 but at a point' opposite the follower roller of the arm 27. The rotation of the cam having the groove 29 with the gear will thus also cause oscillation of the arms 52 and 50, and through the link 47 will cause oscillations of the arm 45. The arm 45, through the link- 44, causes reciprocations of the carriage 43 in a direction endwise of the casing 1. As thelcarriage 43 reciprocates it acts through the link 41 to oscillate the cradle 39 from a position in which it receives the inverted cans from the can a guide 4,' (which it will occupy when the vframe 2.

The carriage 43 is provided with a gravity operated dog 54 which, when the carriage 1s in the position shown in full lines 1n F1gp2,

will engagewithin the recessed bottom of an erated to the inclined position shown in Fig.

v upriglrcan, the dog 54 being gravity op# 2, so tha its upper end may idle beneath the cans when the carriage 43 is moving toward the left in Fig. 2. When the carriage 43 reciprocates toward the rightjin Fig 2, the dog 54 by engaging in the recessed bottom of the upright can will push the can along the upper' surface of the frame extension 2. into the position shown at A,;in which pos1t1on the can receives its cover in the manner described and claimed in said copending application.

The covers discharged from the cover guide 9 are received upon a downwardly inclined runway 55 having side guide rails 56 which turn the rolling can cover into an upright position at B in Fig. 2, adjacent the lower end of the runway; The cover may be stopped at the lower end of this runway by a gate 57 which is carried by an inverted U-s'haped frame 58.

The frame 58 carries sleeves 59 which slide vertically on posts 60 that project upwardly from the frame 2. l

The frame 58, at its lower end, isprovided with a roller 61 whichis engaged by an inclined cam surface 62 mounted on the carriage 43, so that as the carriage moves to the right, in Fig. 2, the cam surface 62 will `engage with the roller 61 and cam it upwardly,there by elevating the frame 58 and the gate 57 to release -the cover B which thereupon falls upon the open end of the upright can A. Suitable means, not shown, then remove the 'can and its cover las usual heretofore.

During their travel through the casing 1, the cans and their covers are washed or otherwise ycleansed or treated' in any desired manner. For example when the cans and covers reach-the second position, shown in dash lines 'vice 68.

Fig. 1, they may Abe subjected to apreliminaryfrinse treatment, the cans being sub- 'jected to a' rinse liquid spray from a nozzle 63 (Figs. 1 and 4) disposed beneath the can guide. A branch pipe 64 extends upwardlyl water through a pipe 65 which is contrlled by a valve 66. l k j In the third step or position, the cans and covers may drain, and in the fourth position they may be subjected to a cleansing spray of soap, caustic solution or other detergent. When the cans are lin this fourth position, they are ldirectly over a nozzle 67 that direct the jets of cleansing solution upwardly into the inverted cans, and the covers are similarly subjected to a series of jets of the cleansing solution from a cross-shaped spray device 68. The 4device 68 is connected to pipes 69 which extend downwardly along opposite'sides of the cans vand have a'plurality of apertures through which a plurality of small jets of the cleansing solution are discharged against the outer sides of the can.

The pipes 69 and the nozzle 67 are con `nected to a supply pipe 7 0 leading to a pump 71 driven lfrom the motor shaft 36, the suction or intake side of the pump 71 being connected by a pipe 72 to the bottom of a supply tank 73 mounted in the frame 2 beneath the cans in positions 3, 4, and 5, so that the cleansing solution may drain into the tank 73 and be used over and over by the pump 71. When the cans and covers are in the fifth position shown in Fig. 1,*they may drain offexcess cleansing solution. A guard 74 (Fig. l) may be provided to divert suchdrainage into the tank 73.

When the cans and covers are in the sixth position shown in Fig..1, they are subjected to a rinsing operation. In this position the cans are directly over a nozzle 75 that directs clean rinse water upwardly into the cans, and the covers are subjected to a rinse spray from a nozzle device 76 which is similar to the de- Fipe 77 which supplies the nozzle device 76 with the rinsing liquid extends along opposite sides of a can in this positifn,

and is provided with apertures discharging jets of the rinsing liquid against the sides of the cans and covers to remove allof the cleansing solution whichremains on the cans and the covers.

The pipe 77 andnozzle 75 are supplied with rinsing liquid through a pipe 78 which is con- III)` .washing machines.

water. In succeeding positions (Fig. 1) the Y cans and covers may be subjected to any other tion to one another at the starting end. Ac-f cordingly a lever 83 is pivoted at 84 beneath the can dog bars, and one arm or end 85 of this lever extends upwardly through the can guide into a position to be depressed or rocked by the lower ends ofthe cans asthe latter move along 'the can guide. Y For convenience the end 85 of lever 83 is disposed in a posi- Vtion to be depressed by a can in the second position from the starting end, as shown in ig. l.

A link 86 is pivoted at one end by a pin 87 to the other end or arm of the lever 83. rll'he other end of the link 86 is pivoted by a pin 88 to a cam lever 89, which is pivoted at 90 to the cover guide 9. The cam lever 89 has a cam tail 90 which is normally' in a lowered position, shown in Fig. 1, when the lever 83 is operated by a can in the second step or position in the machine. When the cam tail 91 is in lowered position, as shown in Fig. l, the first dog 12 of the cover propelling means will clear the tail 91 and be unaected thereby. When there is no can in the second position however, aweight 92 carried on the link 86 will rock the lever 83 in a position to elevate the end 85 upwardly throughthe can guide, as shown'in Fig. 5.

During'such movement, the cam tail 91 is elevated into a position in which it engages with the lower end of the first dog 12 of the cover propelling means, and holds that dog 12 free of the covers during the movement of this dog 12 into a position ready to engage a cover in the first .position on the guide 9, and also during the movement of the dog in a propelling direction until it has cleared any cover'that may bek in the first position. So long as there is no can in nthe second position on the can guide, the first dog 12 of the cover dog bar will be held in an ineffective position, so that it cannotadvance the cover out of thefirst position on the guide 9. The cover in first position will therefore remain stationary until its related can reaches the second posi- 'tion on the can guide and then they will travel through the machine in a definite relation to one another, the cover reachingk the delivery end at just the time necessary to fall upon the upended can A', and the gate 57 checking the cover if it arrives too soon to fall upon the can.

In order to avoid waste of the preliminary rinse water,- the valve 66,Fig. l, may be op- \erated by a bell crank lever 93 which is pivotedh on a bracket extending from the valve. A link 94 connected to this bell crank is also connected to an upstanding arm 95 fixed on vthe pivot 84 so as to rock with the levei` 83.

The jets of preliminary rinse water, which yare effective upon the cans and covers intheir second positions, will therefore not be in action unless there is a can in second position on the can guide. A can moving into second position on the can guide depresses the end 85 of lever 83, and in doing so turns on the preliminary rinse so long as the can remains in that position and permits actuation of the cover out of first position, it being remembered that the cover is actuated forward out of its first position while the can is stationary in second position. The covers .travel into second position while the can in second position is stationary, and hence both the can and can cover are' subjected to the preliminary rinse.

rlhe operation of this machine would appear to be obvious from the foregoing description, but will `be briey summarized. The motor 37 is started in operation, and the pump 71 and 79 are thereby operated to spray the washing solution and the second I rinse continuously. rlhrough the pinion 32 the gear 30 will be continuously rotated.,

.and through it the .cam having the groove 29 will be rotated. rlhe cam groove causes oscillation of the arms 27 and,52. The

arm 27 causes reciprocations of the can and cover dog bars alternately, and the -arm 52 causes reciprocations of the delivery carriage 43 and the oscillations of the upending cradle 39. rlhe Vcans are placed in succession upon the can guide at the starting end. After each can is placed upon the can guide at the starting end. its cover vis placed in the first notch o the guide 9. I

The can dog bars move forwardlylirst, andl push the can into second position during which the cover dog bar moves idly into a driving position. Duringl the return movement of .the can dog bars, the cover dog bars will move the covers forwardly. The depression of the lever 83 by the can in second position, permits the operation of the cover out of first position on its guide, so that the covers will move through the machine a half step back of the related can. When` the can moves into second positionthe depressed lever 83 will cause actuation of the valve 66 to turn on the preliminary rinse liquid while the can remains in second position.

After the cans and covers move through the Lamela said Sperraz. As the delivery carriage 43 moves the can into nal position A', the carriage operates the gate 57 to release the cover so that the cover may fall upon the can.

It will be obvious that various changes in the details, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to eXplain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Claims:

1. A washing machine for milk cans and the like comprising a trackway over which the cans may be moved in an inverted position, a cover trackwayalong which the covers may be moved, a reciprocating dog bar associated with the can trackway and reciprocating in a direction lengthwise of that" trackway, a dog bar arranged adjacent the cover trackway and reciprocating in a direction lengthwise of the cover trackway, pivoted dogs carried by each dog bar and operable upon the cans and covers to propel them along their trackways, step by step,`during successive reciprocations of said dog bars, and means connected to said dog bars for causing reciprocation of said dog bars with the can propelling dog bars moving forwardly when the cover propelling dog bar is moving rearwardly, and vice versa, whereby the cans and covers will be moved alternately in succession,

' step by step.

2. A washing machine for milk cans and the like comprising a trackway for the cans and a trackway for the can covers running parallel to one another, reciprocating means associated with each trackway for propelling the cans and covers step by step along the trackways, and means for operating said .reciprocating means Jsimultaneously in opposite directions, whereby the cans and covers will be fed along the trackways step by step in alternate movements.

3. A washing machine for milk cans and the like comprising a trackway vfor the' cans and a trackway for the can covers running parallel to one another, reciprocating means associated with each trackway for propelling the cans and covers step by step along the trackways, means lfor operating said reciprocating means simultaneously in opposite directions, whereby the `cans and covers will be fed along-the trackways step by step in alternate movements, and means associated with the starting end of said can trackway and operable. upon the cover feedin means for normally preventing actuation diy said reciprocating meansof any cover in starting pos1tion onsaid trackway, and having a controlling member in a. pos1tion for operation by a can in a desired position on said can trackway for operation to permit actuation of a cover from starting position, whereby said covers and cans will be propelled along their trackways in a definite step by step relation to" one another.

Il. A washing machine for Washing milk cansand their covers and the like, comprising a trackway along` which can. members may be moved, a second trackway along which the cover members may be moved, feeding means associated with each trackway for propelling the can and cover members along the same in succession, and means associated with both of said trackways adjacent the starting ends thereof for preventing initial movement of the members on one of said trackways until there is a member in a desired pos1tion on the other trackway, whereby the can and cover members will be conveyed along said trackways in a desired relation to one another.

5,. A washing machine for washing milk cans and their covers and the like, comprising a trackway along which can members may be moved, a second trackway along which the cover members may be moved, feeding means associated with each trackway for `propelling the can and cover members along thesame in succession, and means associated with both of said trackways adjacent the starting'ends thereof for preventing initial movement of the members on one of said trackways until there is a member in a desired position on the other trackway, whereby the can and cover members will'be conveyed along said trackways in a desired relation to one another, and means for operating said feeding means of both trackways alternately in propelling directions.

6. A washing machine for milk cans and their covers, comprising a trackway alongl which the cans may travel, a trackway running inthe same direction and along which the covers may travel, reciprocating bars extending along the trackways, means mounting said bars for reciprocating movements in directions endwise of the trackways, dogs vcarried .by each bar and operable upon the cans and'covers, whereby the cans and covers j in a desired position by one of said dogs, and

means yieldingly urging said member into a position in which it prevents operation of a cover by said dog bar, said urging means having an element extendin into the path of travel of said cans, where y a can within a predetermined section of said trackway will operate said element ipto a position in which said one dog bar may be effective on said covers, and the covers moved along their trackways in a desired relation to said cans.

7. A washing machine for milk cans and their covers, comprising a trackway for said cans, a trackway for covers, a bar having pivoted feeding dogs thereon associated with ilo yao

each trackway and mounted for reciprocation endwise, whereby the covers and cans will be fed step by step along their trackways, a member dis osed in the path of travel of said cans along t e trackway and operable by the cans in succession when the cans are in a predetermined section of said trackway )adj acent the starting end thereof, and means controlled by said member for preventing the operation of a cover out of a starting position on its trackway until a can o crates said member, whereby said cans an covers willY travel in a desired relation to one along said trackways.

8. A washing machine for milk cans and their covers, comprising a trackway for said cans, a trackway for said covers, means for feeding said cans and covers along their trackways and including a bar reciprocating endwise of the cover trackway and havin pivoted dogs for engaging and feeding sai covers step by step along their traok'way, a lever having an arm extending into the path of travel of said cans along the can trackway, whereby when a can is passing through a certain section of the can trackway, said lever will be rocked in one direction, a cam arranged adjacent the starting end of the cover trackway and operable into and out of a position in which it holds the pivoted dog enanother gaging the first cover on the trackway in a position in which it is inoperative to propel said first cover out of starting position, means connecting said cam and said lever, whereby when said lever is operated by a cam said cam will be held in a osition in which it is inoperative on said og, whereby the movement of the can through said section will permit actuation of a cover from starting position, and means yieldingly urging said lever in a. direction to place said arm in the path of said cans.

9. A Washing machine for milk cans and their coversv comprising a trackway for said cans, a trackway for said covers, means for feeding said cans and covers along their trackways and including a bar reciprocating endwise of the cover trackway and having pivoted dogs for engaging and feeding said covers step by step along their trackway, a lever having an arm extending into the path of travel of said cans along the can trackway, whereby when a can is passing through a certain section of the can trackway, said lever will be rocked in one direction, a cam arran ed adjacent the starting end of the cover trac ay and operable into and out of a position in which it holds, the pivoted dog en# gaging the first cover on the trackway in a position in which it is inoperative to propel said first cover out of starting position, means connecting said cam and said lever, whereby when said lever is operated by a can said cam will be held in a position in which it is inoperative on said dog, whereby the movement ase-asie of the can throughcsaid section will permit actuation of a cover from starting position, means yieldingly urging said lever in a direction to place said arm in the path of said cans, and means controlled by said lever for their covers, comprising a trackway along j which the cans may be conveyed in succession, a trackway along which the covers may be conveyed in succession, said trackways running in the same direction and adjacent one another, feeding means associated with each trackway for feeding the cans and covers along the trackway step by step, means connecting said feeding means for causing alternate operation of said feeding means in conveying directions, can reversing mechanism arranged alon the can trackway for reversing the cans a er they reach a predetermined position, means for propelling the cans along the trackway after being reversed, and discharge mechanism connected to the discharge end of the cover trackway for directing the covers in succession, as they leave the cover trackway, upon the reversed cans traveling along the can trackway.

11. A Washing machine for milk cans and covers comprising a trackway along which the cans may be conveyed in an inverted position, feeding means associated with one section of said trackway for propelling the cans step by step along said section, can reversing mechanism arranged at the discharge end of Ysaidsection Yof trackway for receiving the inverted cans, upending them, and discharg ing them upon another trackway section,.`l

feeding means associated with the second trackway'sectionk for propelling the upended cans away from said upending mechanism, a cam, a pair of followers operated by said cam and connections from said followers to both of said feeding means for causing operations of both of said feedingmeans in a desired relation to one another.

12. A washing machine for milk cans and covers comprising a trackway along which...

the cans may be conveyed in an inverted position, feeding means associated with one section of said trackway for propelling the cans step by step along said section, can reversing mechanism arranged at the discharge end of.

said section of trackway for receiving the inverted cans,'upending them, and discharging them upon another trackway section, feeding means associated with the second trackway section for propelling the upended l cans away from said upending mechanism, a cam, a pair of followers operated by said cam, connections from said followers to both of said feeding means for causing operations of both of said feeding means in a desired re-4 lation to one another, and means connecting f said upending mechanism with one of said feeding means, whereby-said upending mechanis-m will be operated in a desired relation to the operations of said feeding means.

13. A washing machine for milk cans and their covers, comprising a trackway along which the cans-may travel, a traclrway along which the covers may travel, feeding means associatedwith each trackway and reciprocating endwise of said trackwaysto feed the cans and covers along their trackways, a lever, connections between said lever and each of said feeding means for causing concurrent reciprocations of said feeding means in opposite directions, whereby the cans and covers will be moved forwardly by alternate steps, feeding means and through said lever the other feeding means.

14. A washing machine for milk cans and their covers, comprising a trackway .along which the cans may travel, a trackway along which the covers maytravel, feeding means associated with each trackway and reciprocating endwise of said trackways to feed the cans and covers along their trackways, a lever, connections between said lever and each of said feeding means for causing concurrent reciprocations of saidfeeding means in opposite directions, whereby the cans and covers will be moved forwardly by alternate steps, a continuously rotating cam, a follower operated by said cam, and means connecting said follower to one of said feeding means for reciprocating it and through said lever causing reciprocation of the other feeding means` 15. A washing machine for milk cans and their covers, comprising a guide along which the cans may travel, a guide along which the covers may travel, feeding means associated with each guide for propelling the cans and covers along their guides, and means for operating said feeding mea-nsv alternately in propelling directions.

JOHN P. MQKINLEY.

and means for operating one ofvsaid 

